Sampler clock with electric movement



S. T. B'ILLE ETAL SEMRLER CLOCK WITH ELECTRIC MOVEMENT May 12, 1964 Filed Dec. 5, 11961 United States Patent Office 3,132,469 Patented May 12, 1964 3,132,469 SAMPLER CLOCK WITH ELECTRIC MGVEMENT Steven T. Hills, West New York, N.J., and Knute Heinz, Pearl River, N.Y., assignors to The Curtis Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa, 2 corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 157,085 3 Claims. (Cl. 58-43) This invention relates to an electric clock of the wall or mantel type, and has for an object the provision of a cloth clock face embroidered in the form of a sampler of any desired design. The numerals embroidered on the clock face cooperae with clock hands driven from an electric motor to provide the indication of time.

More specifically, and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a clock having a rigid flat support member over the front surface of which extends a piece of cloth having an embroidered clock face thereon. The embroidered clock face is secured to the support member so that the face is taut and straight on the front surface of the support member. An electric clock movement with an extending shaft is mounted on the rear of the support member with the shaft extending through the front surface of the support member and centrally of the embroidered clock face. A pair of hands is carried by the shaft and overlying the embroidered clock face for cooperation therewith in indicating time. A box frame extends around and engages the edges of the support member. The inner surface of the box frame is provided with grooved structure for engaging the edges of the fiatsupport member and corresponding marginal portions of the piece of cloth having the embroidered clock face. A cover having a glass front is hinged to one side of the box frame and extends over the clock face. The bottom of 'the cover overhangs the bottom of the box frame a slight amount so as to prevent the clock from tipping forward when placed on a shelf.

For other objects and advantages of the present invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

P16. 1 is a perspective view of a clock embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the various components comprising the clock shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the clock is provided with a flat support memberll, such for example as a plywood board. To the front face of the plywood board, there is applied a piece of cloth 12 having embroidered thereon numerals 13 arranged in accordance with a clock face. The embroidered numerals 13 may be of any desired design and color and the area surrounding the numerals may also be embroidered with any desired design.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, the embroidered clock face is on a piece of cloth 12 which is larger in area than the support member 11. With this arrangement, the edges or marginal portions 12a of the cloth clock face 12 may be pulled over the corresponding edges of the support member 11 and secured to the rear surface of the sup port member 11 so that the embroidered clock face will be taut and straight on the front surface of support member 11. The marginal edges or portions 12a may be initially secured to the rear surface of the support member 11 as by tacks which may be removed and reinserted during application of the cloth clock face 12 to the support 11 to insure that the clock face is taut and straight. t will be noted that the support member 11 is provided'with a central opening 11a through which the extending shaft 15a on electric clock movement 15 is adapted to extend. In applying the embroidered cloth clock face 12 to the support member 11, the opening 12b at thecenter of the clock face is carefully aligned with the corresponding opening 11a in support member 11. This insures that the clock hands 16 and 17 will cooperate in desired relation with the numerals 13 on the clock face.

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that there is provided a box frame which extends aroundand engages the edges of the support member 11. The box frame comprises a pair of Vertical side members 18, 19 and top and bottom members 2th and 21. Each of these members of the box frame is provided with shoulder structure in the form of a groove extending lengthwise of each of the respective members, only grooves 18a and 21a being shown in FIG. 2. The ends of the top and bottom members 20 and 21 are notched to receive the fiat ends of the vertical side members 18 and 19 to aid in maintaining the box frame in rectangular shape. The top and bottom members 211" and 21 are adapted to be secured to the respective side members 1-8 and 1-9 as by screws 23. After one of the members 20 or 21, for example member 20, has been secured to the vertical members 18 and 19, the assembled support 11 with embroidered clock face 12 thereon is slipped into the grooves in the box frame members. The other horizontal box frame member, member 21, is then secured to the corresponding ends of the vertical box frame members 18 and 19 so as to lock the support 11 and cloth clock face 12 in position within the box frame. The grooves in the box frame members engage the marginal portions 12a of the cloth clock face 12 and thus assist in maintaining the cloth of the clock face taut and straight on the front surface of the support member 11.

The electric motor or clock movement 15 includes an extension shaft 15a which is adapted to extend through the openings 11a and 12b in the support 11 and clock face 12 respectively. A resilient gasket member 25 is positioned between the front face of the electric clock movement 15 and the rear surface of the flat support member 11. This gasket 25 is preferably made from a material such as cork and aids in dampening vibration transfer from the electric clock movement 15 to the fiat support member 11. A washer member 26 is placed over the shaft extension 15a at the front surface of the cloth clock face 12 and a lock nut 27 engages a threaded portion on the shaft extension 15a to securely lock the electric clock movement 15 to the support member 11. The shaft extension 15a is of'conventional type on electric clock movements and includes an outer shaft which is adapted to receive the hour hand 16 and an inner shaft which is adapted to receive the minute hand 17. The outer end of the inner shaft is threaded to receive a lock nut 30 for maintaining the minute hand 1'7 on its shaft. The hour hand 16 is maintained on its respective shaft by reason of a press-fit and both hands 16 and 17 when in position on the respective concentric shafts are free to rotate without binding or touching each other. The bottom member 21 of the box frame is provided with a notch 2111, FIG. 2, for receiving the cord 1512 from the electric clock movement.

The clock cover 32, FIG. 1, is secured to one side of the box frame as by hinges 33, FIG. 2. A glass panel 34, 1, is provided in the cover for preventing dust from settling on the cloth clock face. The cover 32 may be maintained in closed position by means of the cooperating latch members 36 and 3'7 on the corresponding sides of the cover and the box frame. The bottom member 32b of the cover is adapted to extend or overhang the bottom member 21 of the box frame a predetermined amount to prevent the clock from tipping forward when placed on a shelf or mantel. A suitable amount of overhang will be in the order of approximately one-eighth inch. This arrangement will enable the clock to be maintained in a vertical position on a shelf but at the same time will not interfere with the operation of the electric clock movement.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an electric clock, the hands of which are adapted to cooperate with an embroidered clock face of any desired design and thus provide the attractive appearance of an heirloom sampler while at the same time providing an accurate indication of the time. By utilizing an embroidered clock face in the foregoing construction, it is readily possible to change the design of the clock face and substitute a different design as may be desired to fit the decor of the room.

Cross-reference is hereby made to applicants design patent, Des. 193,307, filed concurrently with the present application on December 5, 1961.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated herein, it is understood that further modifications thereof may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clock comprising a flat support member, a piece of cloth having an embroidered clock face thereon, said cloth extending over the front surface of said support member and having marginal portions which extend over corresponding edges of said support member for securing said cloth to said support member so that said embroidered clock face is taut and straight on said front surface of said support member, a clock movement having an extending shaft, means for mounting said clock movement on the rear of said support member with said shaft extending through said front surface of said support member and centrally of said embroidered clock face, a pair of hands carried by said shaft and overlying said embroidered clock face for cooperation therewith in indicating time, a box frame extending around the edges of said support member, said box frame having groove structure extending around the inner surface thereof to receive said edges of said support member and engage the corresponding said marginal portions of said cloth, and a cover including a frame hinged to one side of said box frame, said frame including means for supporting a sheet of glass in extending relation over said clock face to I provide a dust cover therefor.

2. A clock according to claim 1 wherein said cover has a length greater than said box frame and overhangs the bottom of said box frame to prevent said clock from tipping forward when placed on a shelf, and latching means for holding said cover in closed position with respect to said box frame.

3. A clock comprising a flat support member, a piece of cloth having an embroidered clock face thereon extending over the front surface of said support member, said cloth having marginal portions which extend over corresponding edges of said support member, means securing said marginal portions of said cloth to the rear surface of said support member so that said embroidered clock face is taut and straight on said front surface of said support member, a clock movement having an extending shaft, means for mounting said clock movement on the rear of said support member with said shaft extending through said front surface of said support member and centrally of said embroidered clock face, a pair of hands carried by said shaft and overlying said embroidered clock face for cooperation therewith in indicating time, a box frame extending around the edges of said support member, said box frame having groove structure extending around the inner surface thereof to receive said edges of said support member and engage each of the corresponding said marginal portions of said cloth, and a cover including a frame hinged to one side of said box frame, said frame including means for supporting a sheet of glass in extending relation over said clock face to provide a dust cover therefor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 71,438 Allen Nov. 26, 1867 188,261 Robinson Mar. 13, 1877 2,651,908 Fargo Sept. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 131,853 Switzerland May 16, 1929 259,516 Switzerland June 16, 1949 343,078 Switzerland Jan. 30, 1960 

1. A CLOCK COMPRISING A FLAT SUPPORT MEMBER, A PIECE OF CLOTH HAVING AN EMBROIDERED CLOCK FACE THEREON, SAID CLOTH EXTENDING OVER THE FRONT SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND HAVING MARGINAL PORTIONS WHICH EXTEND OVER CORRESPONDING EDGES OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SECURING SAID CLOTH TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER SO THAT SAID EMBROIDERED CLOCK FACE IS TAUT AND STRAIGHT ON SAID FRONT SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, A CLOCK MOVEMENT HAVING AN EXTENDING SHAFT, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID CLOCK MOVEMENT ON THE REAR OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER WITH SAID SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FRONT SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND CENTRALLY OF SAID EMBROIDERED CLOCK FACE, A PAIR OF HANDS CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT AND OVERLYING SAID EMBROIDERED CLOCK FACE FOR COOPERATION THEREWITH IN INDICATING TIME, A BOX FRAME EXTENDING AROUND THE EDGES OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID BOX FRAME HAVING GROOVE STRUCTURE EXTENDING AROUND THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF TO RECEIVE SAID EDGES OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND ENGAGE THE CORRESPONDING SAID MARGINAL PORTIONS OF SAID CLOTH, AND A COVER INCLUDING A FRAME HINGED TO ONE SIDE OF SAID BOX FRAME, SAID FRAME INCLUDING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A SHEET OF GLASS IN EXTENDING RELATION OVER SAID CLOCK FACE TO PROVIDE A DUST COVER THEREFOR. 